Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-11-27
ICopyrightsd. ISL

should the spirits Of our dead 20 70
heayen?' Not that society and heaven
are Synonymous terms-far from it; but
the ranks OF the divorced represent almost
as many varieties and kinds of women as
the ranks of the departed
The life of the spOtless Empress Joseph
inc proves to all Of US that the word
divorce may only imply misfortune
not error.
However strongly opposed We may be to
the principle Tor lack OF it, involved in the
divorce law, each one Of Us knows sOme
one innocent woman who has passed
through its fiery ordeal and yet retained
u sympathy and respect
Without doubt it is the most painful ex-
p~erience which can befall q sensitive wo-
man. Publicity given to ones sOrrows, of
whatever nature, intensi6es them tenfold.
Publicity given to the most private and
sacred relations on earth Is little short Of
CrucilNlOn.
To have yOur diSaPpOintnents discussed
in the frivolous fashion Of the daily press,
10 hays Your bleeding wounds pierced by
the coarse jests of law dispensers, to hear
your most secret troubles commented on
by strangers, surely the cup of earthly sOr-
row can hold no bitterer potion than this!
TIE wOmsn who voluntarily passes
through this mire IN order to lind her way
out Of marriage into freedom is either a
great sufferer worthy of our deepest sym
patty and our strongest support or else
she Is a cOarSe-Ebred creature, who reyels
in %uOtOriety, and is CALLED by the domestic
yoke. She must be one or the other.
Woman i by nature and education a re-
fined and sensitive, aud somewhat vain be-
ing. She shrinks from any publicity which
does not present her in a Gathering light.
She nav feel q foolish pride in posing rs
the professional beauty and admired belle,
but she does not court the role of the neg
lected wife. II is not complimentary TO her
DO erS Of attraction.
Therefore / do not believe she enters the
divorce court unless she IS compelled to do
50 by an unTelentiDg fate, which she finds
too cruel 10 combat.
When she does. she Is an abnormal
creature who, through some accident Of
birth, is devoid Of the finer qualities OF the
sex.
The average wife Is made happy and con-
tent by a very small exhibition Of love,
and very ordinary methods of kindness.
Every day and everywhere l see women
giving pounds Of gratitude for ounces of
attention from their husbands.
Everywhere and every day l see women
econOmiZing with cents, while their hus-
bands throw away dollars.
Therefore l believe that it requires pro-
nounced cruelty and decided lack OF sup
port to force women into an application for
divorce. They will bear s vast amount Of
poverty and neglect before they resort to
such a method Of redress.
Indeed, We can al Of Us rsCite scores OF
cases where wives cover up and cOndOne
the worst offences against their dignity and
their happiness rather than give publicity
10 their SOrrowS
! heard a gentleman express an opinion
on this subject no. long ago. he said:
1T the law permitted the iuattention and
impOiiteneSs and Gault-hndiug ways OF hus-
bands to be lust causes Of divorce, that
men would make Tar better life partners
4 man often negleCtS \ woman, he said,
lust because she belongs to him, and he
knows she will bear Il. Il he knew that
he was liable - lose her by that neglect
he would be more on his guard, as hels IL
the DAYS Of courtshlp-
l asked him iitus same Eule might not
apply tO both : NeS
We" lie said, Tor women are trueT
and mole domestic by nature, more easily
satisfied with their ,AOlce in marriage ard
more unwilling 20 become themes OF pub
lie gossip. Nine men the Of their wives
where one woman tires Of her husband.
The law amended - | suggest il would
not increase divorces, but would speedily
increase the number Of good husbands.
! once heard a u,opInion expressed that
no divorced man OF woman was ever happy
afterward. They might be les miserable
than while in bondage. but no absolute
happiness ever came 10 them, the spesker
held.
I do not think this i true; yet It must
require = great and unusual joy 10 ersdl-
cate the effect OF Such an experience to
heart and soul.
one OF the most refined and beautiful
women 1 eysr knew, . good daughter, q
faithful wife. a devoted mother, a noble
friend, was compelled to become a dIrorcsC
in orier 70 preserve her Sslt-reS1eCt and TO
retain the Iggsl custody Of her children.
Surely the "soclety' which harS Its
doors TO such s woman Is ItSslfthe Lesser.
The woman who would sllow \ foolish
wbim or a lawleS passion to bring her toto
thedivorce cOurt,-I the wouan who Is com
pelled 10 appear thereto maintain her huS-
hands dignity .; the cost Of her own repu-
tstioa, l. gCite another being.
Even If society Is -ouetines deceived by
her. We canuo; envy her the little pleasure
she may derive from - tickle layorS.
There Il osucyts~.u no wsalIb, no triumph
which eau render truly happy the womsn
whose lfe will not bear Investigation. 4
spectre walks ever by her side, a skeleton
sits with her ~ the feast, the voice Of Der
own truer self j. tagtvgr accusing Der, and
she Grrads discovery By the cruel world,
which Is - pitIleS, - CcTiag women.
No matter VIA. prosperity may seem to
be hers she Is % be PlI,ed hy God and
man.
However much and sincerely We may
pity her. We could not CensUre the true
wife and mother who refused 70 receive
her into the s4Cred family circle. The
woman OF man who dces not violate the
laws whjsh hold tire civilized world to
sether ;, certainly nors deserving Of sci
e;y's fayo- THAI Tie one wGo lives IN open
o. secret immortality.
Whenever a community becomes lax or
liberal N ia IDEAS On theSe subjects, rain
and devastation follow; beaTth-stOnss are
deSolate2. Characters undermined and gen
eal destruction prevails
Ye: Il khoovCS r. 20 b humane before
We are Jealous We have no night % pass
judgement careisSs.y ca any person whose
private life We co o SCow. We have 10
night 10 brand 8 WOMAN unworthy because
she i divorced. Lie i too short TO be
used in wounding one sCOther without Just
cause
The woman who has found happiness n
marriage hiss reached the highest JOY his
earth csn ohsr; and tbe woman who has
mel with disappointment aud sorrow IN
marriage has sounded the very depths Of
eartk's misery.
Il Il good Tor us all 70 remember this
when We hear The word 6iroross applied to
guy ma
- - H. tasted rhs very hif-